I think Dear Esther did something interesting with the way it was written -- the nonlinearity of the stories, the blurring of lines between characters and places -- that was all really cool. I just don't think it worked well mechanically. I understand it's a low-budget indie thing, but it really didn't take advantage of the interactive nature of the medium. The only thing you do is push forward and look around. There's nothing wrong with that if it means the game is offering you something stimulating or thought-provoking, but I think it's lazy design. What the game ultimately amounted to was a linear walk through a gallery. And the story was fine, and there was some gorgeous stuff to look at, but it feels to me like a half-baked concept start-to-finish.

THANKS FOR THE GAME :D